Balance And Composure & Early Exposure: Who’s Most At Risk For Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is a vicious circle that spins in the heads and bodies of addicts. It can be a chronic condition, it can be devastating, and it can strike us with utter surprise. It is possible to stop addiction. We can recognize the warning signs and risk factors for a substance abuse disorder and take preventive steps to avoid addiction in our lives.

You may think that your 12-year-old son won’t be affected by addiction. However, he’s too young to experiment with drugs and too smart to get addicted. This is a mistake. Anyone can become dependent on drugs. The downhill spiral can be initiated by a few simple “firsts”, and often happens much earlier than we realize.

According to current research, the average age at which a teenager first experimented with drugs was 14 years. The brain is still in its development stages at this point. This means that substance abuse can be started very early, making the brain more susceptible to its effects and remembering it. That’s why it is possible that teens who have used any addictive substance prior to age 18 are six-and-a-half times more likely for a substance abuse disorder than those who were introduced later in life.

This fact may be surprising to some parents. Many parents might be shocked that their children still use drugs even though they have a house and food on the table. A study of high school seniors found that their primary motivations for using drugs were to relax or release tension, feel good or get high and experiment/see what it was like.

Socioeconomic factors, where they live, how successful they are academically, and whether or not they have caring adults around them all contribute to a person’s vulnerability to substance abuse. An individual’s upbringing can have a major impact on their ability to abuse narcotics, especially during their formative years. A child’s perceptions and hearings at home can often be reflected back to him or her. Children are more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol if they are exposed to them by their parents or family members. This is an unfortunate reality. It is estimated that 34.4 million children below 18 live with someone who abuses drugs and alcohol.

Different diseases will have different effects on addiction. The likelihood of a person developing a substance addiction and its spread rate is variable. They cannot be pinpointed to one thing. But, early drug exposure can provide insight into the vulnerability of some people to addiction. Strategies for reducing that risk can be suggested. The first step to addressing addiction is recognizing the person’s existing vulnerabilities. It is crucial that they are equalized. The likelihood of becoming addicted can be reduced by having protective variables that are balanced against one’s risk factors. Contact us today to learn more about addiction treatment Thailand and or view our infographic on addiction. You can identify its beginning point and its potential progression, as well as the ways it can be stopped.